Manufacture of unwelded chains



Nov. 2 1926. 1,605,593

S. KlSS-ECSEGI MANUFACTURE OF UNWELDED CHAINS Filed April 4-, 1924 5Sheets-Sheet 1 Inrenfor: Jfefan Mrs -Ecseyi H #orney- S. KISS-ECSEGIMANUFACTURE? OF UNWELDED CHAINS Nov. 2 1926.

Filed April 4, 19 s sheets-sheet 2 Nov. 2 1926. 1,605,593

s. KlSS-ECSEGI MANUFACTURE OF UNWELDED CHAIN S Filed Apnl 4, 1924 3sheets sheet 3 Im'en 17m $7975; Mss- 5x 71 Patented Nov. 2, 1926.

UNITED STATES 1,605,593 PATENT OFFICE.

STEFAN KISS-ECSEGI, .OF VIENNA, AUSTRIA.

HAHUFACTUBE OF UNWEI-DED CHAINS.

Application filed April 4, 1824, Serial No. 704,222. and in AustriaApril 5, 1928.

The several methods have been pro osed in the past to manufactureunwelded c ains, the links of which consist of two eyes or annuli, whichstand at ri ht angles to each 6 other. In a number of ese rocesses thelinks are formed of bar-shaped blanks, the ends of which are formed intoeyes, which eyes are brou ht together by bending the middle part thebar-shaped blank, forming one eye which stands at right angles on theeye which was produced by the bending of the middle part of thebar-shaped blank. As it is necessary that the eyes of the chain-linksthus reduced, fit with as little clearance as posslble onto the blank ofthe following link, which was hooked into the preceding link, itresulted, that at least one of the eyes of the introduced link could notbe completely finished, since the finished half of the eye of the linkcould not be introduced through the opening of the eye of the finishedpreceding hnk. In order to eliminate this diflicult the annular halfeyeswere formed on t e blank after the blank had been passed through thepreceding link. This process was carried out by applying already knownmethods, consisting o pressin and stamping, which however necessitatedhigh pressure and a number of complicated operations. It was alsoproposed to form the annular eye-halves on the blank, prior to,its beingpassed through the preceding link and then to change the shape of theeye by pressing it sideways into a shape, which would permit its passingthrough the finished eye of the preceding link, whereafter the shape ischanged again into an annular halt-eye. These heretofore appliedmanufacturing methods required high pressures, a number of complicatedoperations (u -setting, stamping, punching, removal of t e bur, etc.).An additional disadvantage was that the compressing of the eye-halvesand their reopening re re- 5 sented a serious abuse of the material wich necessarily reduced the strength of the ma terial.

The manufacturing process which forms part of the present inventionpermits the using of a comparatively small force in forming theeye-halves at the ends of a bar-shaped blank, further a very simplemethod of finishing the eye without any waste of material, all withoutan abuse of the material, thus obviating the danger of weakening thestrength 0 the material.

With chains of comparatively small size, this method can be carried outwithout heating the blank, at least for the ater part of the operationsrequired. l d addition the simplicity of this process permits the use ofmechanical equipment of very simple design.

This manufacturing method is explained below and illustrated in theenclosed drawings, which show the various manufacturing stages of theblank.

Figs. 1 and 2 show in side view and end view, respectively, the shape ofthe blank which enters into the operation; Figs. 3 and 4 show in sideview and cross section, respectively, the shape of the blank after theend portion has been split and the middle portion curved; Figs. 5 and 6similarly show the blank after straightening the halves of the split endportions; Figs. 7, 8 and 9 show in side View, cross section and planview, the shape of the blank after the split endportions have been bentinto U-shape. Figs. 10 and 11 show in side view and cross section theshape of the blank after the two halves of the end portions have beenopened to half eyes, the blank having been passed through the eye of afinished link. Figs. 12 and 13 show the manner in which the blank isbent to ether to form a link; and Fi 14, 15 and 16 show a. plurality ofblan formed from a lo rod and stages in the manufacture thereocorresponding to Figs. 1, 3 and 5, respectively. 7

The blank according to Figs. 1 and 2 is a round rod, the ends of whichare frustoconical in shape. Such a rod may be produced by cuttin orother known methods. This blank is sp it near its ends in its axes overa certain length, without splitting the end parts a (Fig. 3). Thissplitting can be performed with different methods, the best of which isto change the relative position of the two parts b and c in thesplitting-plane, this being accomplished by a shearing action, as shownin Fig. 4 in crossection. The parts ofthe blank, which are to be split,are held in two jaws, which can be moved relatively towards each other.It is of course suflicient to move one jaw only and to keep the otherstationary, thus causing by shearing action the severing of the twohalves.

Simultaneously with this operation it is possible to give the middlepart (1 of the blank a light curving in the splitt'ng-plane where thedanger with the purpose to prevent the turning of the blank, by holdingthis curved part in a proper tool for the purpose of carrying out thesplitting operation. After this operation has been carried out, the twohalves b and c are straightened out again, presenting the picture, whichis shown in Figs. 5 and 6, in contradistinction to the appearance asshown in F1 4. Thereresults a small deformation o the cross-section ofthe blank, which however has no bearing upon the final product, since itis only a preparatory ste in the whole process.

The 1) ank is now brought into the sha e shown in Fig. 7; i. e. thesplit ends of t e blank are brought into the shape of an U and the curveof the middle part (i is increased. This bending operation causes, asshown in Fig. 8 in cross-section and in Fig. 9 in plane-view a slightopening of the spht halves b and 0, which is qu te desirable, as it ishelpful in the further manufacturing steps to be taken.

\Vhen in this shape, the blank can be passed through the eye 6 of afinished link (Figs. 10 and 11). The two halves of this split are nowopened, as shown in Fi 11 in dotted lines until they form one p ane,thus producing an annular shape. The opening-up of the two split halvesb and 0 can be accompl shed by a mandrel-shaped tool, this beingfollowed by a stamping tool, which preses the annular halves into a die,at the same time upsetting these halves in order to obtain the desiredannular form. In this pressing operat'on the material of the ends a ofthe original blank, which were not split, and the material f between thecurved part (1 and the split halves b and e is forced into the materialof the annular ring, by preventing the lateral deflection of thematerial by proper means, thus causing a compression of the material inthose parts,

of splitt'ng of the material is to be feared. The material of theconnecting part 1 also is used to form the re uired connection betweenthe finished ha.f-eyes g and the middle art d.

The next step is the bent ing of the middle part 1! as seen in Fig. 12and the press- Eng together of the halfeyes g until they lie cloelyagainst each other. This is simply done by applying pressure exertedonto the two eye-halves g in the direction of the longitudinal axis ofthe blank. With this operat on the link of the chain is finished, andFig. 13 shows three links of such a finished cha n. The process iscontinued by insertin another blank of the shape, shown in Fig. throughthe last preceding link of the chain, after having passed through thestages, shown in Figs. 1, 3 and 5, whereafter the operations shown inFigs. 11 and 12 are repeated, etc.

This splitting of he rod-shaped blank, as

by using the proper tools.

shown in Figs. 3 and 4, requires, as will easily be understood, simpletools and a small amount of power. The rodueing of the shape, as shownin Fi 7 does not present any difficulties, and finally it does notrequire complicated tools or great power, in order to produce out of thepreceding operation the final shape 9, as shown in Fig. 10,

since the transplantation of material is very small. As the stamping isdone in closed dies, there is no necessity for an additional operationfor the removal of the bur.

It goes without saying that the method described above can be altered invarious respects. For instance the splitting of the ends of the blankcould also be performed after the stage, shown in Fig. 7, this e. g. bysawing. In this ufacture, the litting could also be r0 duced by arelative motion of the two'ha ves, One also could perform the operationsillustrated in Figs. 3, 5 and 7 after having inserted the blank in thepreceding link of a chain, or else, one coul perform the 0 rationsresulting in the stages, shown in igs. 3 and 5 on the blank, prior toits inserting into the preceding chain-link, and the operation, resultinin producing the'shape shown. in Fig. 7 a ter inserting the blank in thepreceding chain-link. One also could take a long rod comprising blankportions h separated by notches i and, without severing the notchedparts i from one another (see Fig. 14), produce the shapes shown inFigs. 3 and 5 on this long rod (see Figs. 15 and 16), thereaftersevering the notched parts i fromone another. These operations could beperformed, for example, by a simple rolling process.

In order to carry out the various 'ste s in the manufacturing process,proper y equipped machine-tools, as e. g. presses or hammers could beused. The stamping of the eye-halves is performed through the pushingforward of a mandrel-shaped tool into a closed die, without producing abur.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A process for manufacturing links of unwelded chains, consisting insplitting a blank bar at spaced portions by shifting the two parts ofthe blank to be separated in opposite directions within the splittingplane, thereby producing a shearing action, enlarging the resultingsplits, bringing the parts containing these splits into the shape ofhalf-eyes and bending the blank so as to combine the two halt-eyes toone eye to which is connected a second eye standing at a right angle tothe combined one and being produced by bending the blank between saidspaced portions.

2. A process for manufacturing links of unwelded chains consisting insplitting a stage of the process of manspaced portions.

3. A process for manufacturing links of unwelded chains consisting inSplitting a blank bar at spaced portions by shifting the bending theblank so as to combine the two two parts of the blankto be separated inopposite directions within the splitting plane, producing thereby astraightening out the spllit .parts again bending these arts into t eshape of .a U, opening the sp 't arts, bringing them into the shape ofha f-eyes and bending the blank so asv to combine the two half-eyes toone eye to which is connecteda second eye standing at a right angle tothe combined one and being produced by bending the blank between saidspaced portions;

4. A process for manufacturing links of unwelded chains consisting insplitting a blank bar at spaced portions, giving the intcrmediate part aslight curving, enlarging the resulting splits, bringing the partscontaining these splits into the shape of halfe es and bending the blankso as to combine tlie two half-eyes to one eye to which is. connected asecond eye standing at a right an le to the combined one and beinproduced y 7 bending the blank between said spaced portions.

5. A process for manufacturing links of unwelded chains consisting insplitting a blank bar at spaced portions, bending the intermediate partof the blank into a nearly semi-circular shape, enlarging the resultingsplits, bringing the parts eontainin these splits into the shape ofhalf-eyes, t e not split parts of said spaced portions and the materialof the middle part of the blank adjacent to the split art be' upset andforced into the material of the alf-eyes and half-eyes into one e e towhich is connected a second eye standing at a right angle to thecombined one and being produced by the tendency of the blank betweensaid spaced portions.

6. A process for manufacturing links of unwelded chains consisting insplitting a blank bar at spaced portions, givin the intermediate part aslight curving in the splitting plane, bending the split parts into theshape of a U, bending the intermediate part of the blank into nearlysemi-circular shape, opening the split arts, bringing them into theshape of ha] '-eycs, the not-split parts of the spaced portions of theblank into a nearly semi-circular shape, and the material of theintermediate part shearing action, a

mg produce 'by the bending of the blank between said spaced portions.

7. A process for manufacturing links of unwelded chains consisting insplitting a blank bar at spaced portions, the parts of the spacedportions not to be split being cone shaped, givin the intermediate parta slight curving in t e splittin plane, bending the split parts into'thesin e of a -U, bending the intermediate part 0 the blank into a nearlysemi-circular shape, opening the split parts, bringing them into theshape of half-eyes, the not split parts and the material of the middlepart of. the blank adjacent to the split forced into the material of thehalf-eyes and bending the blank so as to combine the two half-eyes intoone eye to which is connected a second eye standing at a right angle tothe combined one and being roduced by bending the blank between saidspaced portions.

8. A process for manufacturing unwelded chains composed of links roducedas set forth in claim 1, the blan being passed through the eye of thelast finished chainlink before the split portions of the blank areenlarged.

9. A process for manufacturing unwelded chains composed of links forthin claim 2, the bla being passed through the eye of the last finishedchainlink before the split portions of the blank are enlarged.

10. A process for manufacturing unweldparts being upset and' roduced asset ed chains com osed of links produced as a set forth in claim 3, theblanks bein passed through the eye of the last finished chainlink beforethe split portions of the blank are enlarged.

, 11. A process for manufacturing unwelded chains composed of linksroduced as set forth in claim 4, the blanks eing passed through the eyeof the last finished chainlink before the split portions of the blankare enlarged.

1-2. A process for manufacturing unwelded chains composed of linksproduced as set forth *in claim 5, the blanks being passed through theeye of the last finished chainlink before the split portions of theblank are enlarged.

18. A process for manufacturing unwelded chains com osed of linksroduced as set forth in claim 6, the blanks ein through the eye of thelast finished chainlink before the split portions of the blank areenlarged.

passed 14. A process for manufacturing unwelded chains composed of linksroduced as set forth in claim 7, the blanks eing passed through the eyeofthe last finished chainlink before the split portions of the blank areenlarged.

15. A weldless non-separable chain composed of a plurality of links,each link havmg a pair of eyes integral with and in planes at rightangles to each other, one of said eyes being composed of a pair of s lit10 similar portions, a cross section of eit er portion beingsubstantially a semi circle and the outward center art of eachof saidportions being of ense compressed metal. 15 In testimony whereof I havesigned my name to this specification.

STEFAN KISS-ECSEGI.

ed chains composed of links roduced as set forth in clalm 7 the blankseing passed through the eye of the last finished chainlink before thesplit portions of the blank are enlarged.

15. A. Weldless non-separable chain composed of a plurality of links,each link havmg a pair of eyes integral with and in planes at rightangles to each other, one of said eyes being composed of a pair of s litsimilar portions, a cross section of eit or portion being substantiallya semi circle and the outward center art of each of said portions beingof ense compressed metal.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

STEFAN KISS-ECSEGI.

Certificate of Correction.

It is hereby certified that in Letters Patent No.

1 605 593, granted ,November 2,

1926, upon the ap lication of StefanKiss-Ecsegi, oi Vienna, Austria, foran improvement in '1 1e Manufacture of Unwelded Chains, errors appear 1nthe printed specification requiring correction as follows: Page 3, line52, claim 5, for the word tendency read bending; same page, lines 63 and64, claim 6, strike out the words and comma of the blank into a nearlysemi-circular shape,; and that the said Letters Patent should be readwith these corrections therein that the same may conform to the recordof the case in the Patent ()flice.

Signed and sealed this 21st day of December, A. D. 1926.

M. J. MOORE, Acting Commissioner of Patents.

Certificate of Correction.

It is hereby certified that in Letters Patent No. 1,605,593, grantedNovember 2, 1926, upon the application of Stefan Kiss-Evsegi, of Vienna,Austria, for an improvement in The Manufacture of Unwelded Chains,errors appear in the printed specification requiring correction asfollows: Page 3, line 52, claim 5, for the word tendency read bendiny;same page, lines 6-! and (34, claim 6, strike out the Words and comma ofthe blank intoa nearly semicircular sliape,; and that the said LettersPatent should be read with these corrections therein that the same mayconform to the record of the case in the Patent ()flice.

Signed and sealed this 21st day of December, A. D. 1926.

[HEAL] M J. MOORE,

Acting Commissioner of Patents.

